Ladies, your panties may be ruining your style. They’re called foundation garments for a reason, after all — the types of panties you choose can enhance your outfit or detract from it.
And that’s not solely related to fit. Sure, severe panty lines can direct all eyes to your bum. But comfort is as important. Have you ever slipped into a thong only to realize later that you’d rather show your VPLs on TV than survive another minute wearing those undies? Yeah. Wearing the wrong panties can be as bad as dancing the night away in shoes that don’t fit. You get home with rubs and abrasions in all the wrong places.
To help spare you from that fate, here’s a list of five types of panties — and how you should wear each one.
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1. Seamless hipster panties
These panties sit just on your hips, a bit below your waistline. The fabric that wraps around your hips — aka side wings — connecting the front of the panty to the back, is normally a few inches tall. A bikini panty, on the other hand, has very narrow side wings.
The hipster is less “cheeky” than other styles, meaning it covers more of your bum. This style sits lower on your waist and has low-cut leg holes.
Despite the conservative cut, hipster panties are among the most comfortable. A seamless underwear design, like these by EBY, will also be the most versatile foundation piece in your toolkit.
You can wear seamless hipsters for dancing, nightwear, or leisure, underneath low-rise bottoms, sheer dresses, trousers, or fitted leggings. I wear them underneath my equestrian breeches when riding my horse.
2. Cheeky panties
Cheeky panties offer a lovely blend of comfort, function, and sexy style. They’re normally low-rise at the waist but higher cut across your bum than a bikini. Think of this style as part-thong and part-hipster.
The right pair of cheeky underwear (check these) has a smooth finish underneath skin-tight clothing, especially if they have seamless construction. If the panties fit properly, they won’t bunch or roll under your clothes.
Note that you don’t need a rock-solid backside to wear a cheeky panty. This style is flattering on a variety of body shapes — you just have to find a brand that fits you. See our blog post on cheeky swimwear for some tips, since the same concepts apply to your panties.
3. String bikini
String bikini panties have very narrow side wings — strings, really — and something less than full coverage on your backside. They’re often low-raise at the waist, too.
The string bikini can be hard to wear. The string can dig into your sides or, worse, slide down, causing the fabric to bunch on your backside.
I *think* the point of a string bikini is to be sexier and more streamlined than a standard bikini panty, but this is a risky trade-off given the fit challenges. If you find a brand of string bikinis that fits you, great. You can wear them under jeans, shorts, dresses, skirts, or anything that’s not skin tight.
4. Boy shorts
Boy shorts are inspired by men’s boxer briefs. When they fit well, they can be incredibly comfortable and functional. They fit some shapes better than others. On me, boy shorts tend to dig into my backside with the waistband. It’s like I have more padding at the top of my bum than the designers accounted for.
But then, I see other women (granted in staged photoshoots mostly) who look amazing in boy shorts. You might be one of those women. If so, you’ll love the boy short style underneath dresses and skirts, especially the short ones. You can also wear boy shorts under your active wear. If they fit right, they won’t slide up and grab in sensitive areas.
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5. Thong
You are probably familiar with the shape of the thong. The leg seams hide between your cheeks rather than stretching over or underneath your bum. As a result, you normally see no panty lines, even with tight clothes.
Thongs are an acquired taste. You either love them and find them to very comfortable, or they drive you batty. If you’re committed to no panty lines but not quite used to wearing thongs, invest in a single pair and wear them a few times to see how they feel. You might end up being a convert.
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The right foundation
When shopping for panties, pay attention to the material, construction, and seam weight as well as the cut. Also, stick with the brands you know and trust. If the bikini from your favorite brand fits you perfectly, for example, stick with the same brand when you branch out into new cuts like a cheeky or thong.